Bridging the Gap: Effective Strategies to Engage Emerging Adults in the Church

This study intended to identify effective strategies to engage emerging adults in the church because research and the researcher’s experience noticed a decline in emerging adults’ attendance in church. This led to the exploration of scripture for biblical themes for reaching the next generation, and a review of current and relevant literature on emerging adulthood, ministry strategies for emerging adults, reasons for their lack of engagement, and intergenerational ministry best practices. A qualitative case study was conducted using a questionnaire and an interview guide. The research used data from 36 emerging adults ages 18-38-years-old, and three senior pastors of intergenerational Missionary Baptist Churches in Georgia to get a better understanding of why emerging adults are engaged or disengaged and what is needed to engage them in the church. The study showed that two-thirds (61%) of the research participants said they are involved in ministry/church through worship, and the pastors’ interview responses agreed with the data. Themes for reasons given for being engaged and not being engaged emerged from the analysis. Themes for being engaged included: their relationship with God, relationship with others/community, responsibility/expectation, and church/ministry involvement. Themes for not being engaged included: worship styles, lack of support/needs not being met/judgment, exclusion, and lack of time/distractions. The research participants’ data showed that change, support, being heard, valued, teaching/training, and inclusion are needed to engage emerging adults in the church. The pastors’ responses corresponded with the emerging adults, including the need for collaboration, involvement and ownership in programs, and communication. From the exploration of Scripture, reviewed literature, and data analysis, the researcher identified implementing biblical strategies, themes that emerged from the data, six vital questions, and challenges in response to the questions found in the reviewed literature together as an effective strategy to engage emerging adults in the church

Was Homer Ahead of His Time?

When critics and teachers find older authors relevant they often say they\u27re ahead of their time. These assumptions, which have dominated higher ed for 40 years, have distorted history, literature, education, and even our view of human nature. Come to listen and participate as Dan Ritchie, Emeritus Professor of English, analyzes this phenomenon and proposes an alternative. This talk is based on a forthcoming article in National Affairs.https://spark.bethel.edu/primetime-presentations/1005/thumbnail.jp

Interdisciplinary Unit Planning for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) to Support Multilingual Language Learners

The research conducted in this thesis intends to consider the possibilities within the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) to establish similar levels of interdisciplinarity as the rest of the IB continuum, specifically in the support of multilingual language learners (MLL), given the high numbers of students completing the coursework in their second or third language around the world. In considering various IB publications and the research conducted by Ecctis (2021), the basic framework for how to define interdisciplinarity in the Diploma Programme would be established, but the methodology and support for MLL students in this academic level would come from several other studies from both primary and secondary schools around the world, as current research for interdisciplinary teaching specific to the IBDP is limited. From these studies, where the key focus was the expansion of students’ grasp on literacy, academic language, and successful building of communicative skills, there were several patterns that were extracted that would be used in preparing an effective interdisciplinary unit plan for the IBDP: objectives around building literacy; integration of the arts through STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics), thematic considerations to unite the coursework, and a project-based planning model that would allow for a culminating task across disciplines and for students to use the combined academic language

Quality Sleep & Well-Being

Despite being a vital function, sleep is not usually given priority, particularly among college students. University students may suffer from sleep deprivation because it affects their ability to concentrate, remember things, control their emotions, and handle stress. Stress levels and the quality of one\u27s sleep are inversely correlated. The great majority of research papers, if not all of them, on wellness interventions and sleep quality concentrate on the direct effects of stress reduction strategies on sleep quantity. The primary goal of the study is to determine whether undergraduate university participants who received quality sleep education, which emphasized teaching sleep hygiene techniques to enhance the quality of their sleep, would perceive wellness levels significantly higher than those who received active control. The proper quantity of sleep that college students get will be the study\u27s independent variable, while the impact of screen time on those students will be its dependent variable

Barriers and Facilitators for the Reduction of Illicit Opioid Use in the Peripartum Period

Introduction: There has been a steady rise in the incidence of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) in pregnant women in the past decade, becoming a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality and prompting the need for a deeper understanding of challenges and strategies for improving care. The purpose of this integrative review is to identify barriers and facilitators for sobriety in individuals with opioid use in the peripartum period. Methods: An initial online search from CINAHL, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and PsychInfo was conducted with Boolean operators that yielded 1159 articles to be reviewed and uploaded to Covidence for screening. Original research from 2010 to 2014 addressing barriers or facilitators to reducing opioid use in the peripartum period were included, resulting in 26 studies for analysis. A journal hand search yielded one additional study. The studies were evaluated using the Johns Hopkins appraisal tool and organized using the Social Ecological Model (SEM) framework. Results: This study identified key SEM themes at each level that impacted the patient\u27s ability to access and continue treatment for OUD in the peripartum period. Key barriers identified included fear of losing custody, and stigmatization from society. Whereas peer groups, support from friends, family and providers, and clinic availability were identified as key facilitators. Conclusion: In order to address the rising challenge of OUD in the peripartum period, an informed understanding of key barriers and facilitators can help healthcare providers and policymakers improve accessible and equitable care

Laser Tweezing & Tracking

Precisely focused laser beams produce optical forces when coming into contact with particles. Using these forces, it is possible to tweeze microscopic particles, moving them in 3D space. With the aid of a microscope and a photodiode, the location and velocity of these particles can be quickly and accurately tracked. This procedure could have applications in biomedical research, electrical microcircuits, and many other fields

Shared Decision-Making in Vaginal Breech Birth: An Integrative Review

Introduction: Vaginal breech birth has declined since the Term Breech Trial in 2000 because of study outcomes showing higher adverse outcomes for the neonate in vaginal breech births (VBB) when compared to cesarean sections. Recent literature, however, shows that maternal morbidity and mortality are high with cesarean section compared to VBB. Modern delivery providers have limited knowledge, education, and skills in VBB, which ultimately leads to limited delivery options for women. Providers should be aware that informed consent includes discussing all options for management, including VBB, external cephalic version, and cesarean section, as well as the short-term and long-term implications of the birth method on the neonate in order for proper shared decision-making (SDM) to occur. Research Aim: The purpose of this literature review was to reveal the lived experiences of women diagnosed with breech positions in pregnancy and their role in the SDM process regarding mode of delivery. Methods: A systematic search in PubMed, CINAHL, and Nursing and Allied Health resulted in 22 original studies. Inclusion criteria were women with lived experiences of having breech-positioned fetuses, years 2014–2024, and U.S and international studies. Exclusion criteria were articles not in English, articles irrelevant to SDM in pregnancy, articles that did not include participants with breech diagnosis, and articles published before 2014. Study results were organized to reflect four main themes found throughout the literature: emotional response, choice in care, influences on informed consent and SDM, and outcomes related to limitations on SDM. Results: Women and birth providers have negative emotions when presented with a breech-positioned fetus, the majority of women have limited choice in delivery mode, the majority of influencers (e.g., media outlets, social support, medical staff) are not supportive of VBB as an option in care, and lastly, the outcomes of limited informed consent and SDM limit delivery options and may lead to women seeking VBB in areas not supported by national guidelines. Discussion: The choice to have a VBB is not often presented as a valid delivery mode. Using an SDM model will support discussions that include VBB, external cephalic version, and cesarean section as management options for a breech-positioned fetus and choice for mode of delivery

Sleep Patterns

Past research on this topic has primarily looked to examine the negative influence of sleep deprivation and irregular sleep patterns consistent with those diagnosed with the sleep disorder insomnia. Previous empirical testing has been conducted to decipher if individuals who experience significant sleep disturbances would score higher on a given ‘catastrophizing scale’. Our current research study looks to analyze participants on their levels of catastrophizing in other areas of their lives and look for a relationship in their perception of their ability to receive quality sleep

RAW 264.7 Cells Treated with Helichrysum Essential Oil Experience Inhibition of Activation by IFN-γ and LPS

In response to excessive cell signaling due to toxicity or harm, cells induce inflammation in the body as a defense mechanism. This inflammation plays a pivotal role in various pathological conditions, ranging from chronic diseases to acute injuries and bug bites. One means of treating inflammation being studied is the use of essential oil and concentrated plant derivatives. Helichrysum essential oil (HEO) is one such oil that has gained attention for its potential anti-inflammatory properties. In our research, we investigate the effects of HEO on inflammation using RAW 264.7 cells as a model for studying macrophage-mediated inflammatory responses. We hypothesize that that the therapeutic introduction of HEO inhibits inflammation as demonstrated in the state of the cell’s size, protein fold change, oxygen consumption, and presence of inflammatory signals. The results could offer valuable insights into the therapeutic potential of HEO and contribute to the development of novel treatments for inflammatory disorders

Commit Suicide or Die by Suicide

Randomly assigned Bethel students had the opportunity to take an online 8 minute Qualtrics survey based on questions about Determinism vs Free Will. AT the end of the survey, participants had the option to pick the phrase Die by Suicide or Commit Suicide Me and my Co Researcher Elsie Broersma will do a JASP analysis on which phrase is more common to say and why